Tilting fitting for a chair

Description

[0001] The present invention relates in a first aspect to a tilting fitting device for a chair to enable a chair seat when fitted to the device to be tiltable forwards and backwards against spring force of tilt-resisting springs, the tilting fitting having an upper part that is fastenable to the chair seat and a lower part that is fastenable to a chair base and tiltably connected to the upper part, wherein the tilting resistance is adjustable by adjusting spacing between the tilt-resisting springs and distance of each spring from a respective side of a tilting axis for the upper part.

[0002] A second aspect of the invention relates to a tilting fitting device for a chair, where a chair seat is tiltable forwards and/or backwards against spring force of tilt-resisting springs, the tilting fitting having an upper part fastened to the chair seat and a lower part fastened to a chair base and tiltably connected to the upper part.

[0003] A typical known solution is based on the spacing of the tilt-resisting springs being adjusted by axial movement of the springs. Such a solution has been found to have operational drawbacks for a chair user, as the necessary biasing of the springs to provide sufficient spring resistance in a neutral position (centre position) dictates that the chair seat must be tilted, and especially because of the location of the control unit for the user, i.e., on the underside, must be tilted vigorously backwards or forwards in order to release the springs for movement.

[0004] A tilting mechanism for a chair is known from WO 88/05276.

[0005] Because a tilting fitting, especially of the type which should be tiltable both forwards and backwards, is required to be compact, there are limited possibilities for fixing the desired tilting position, if the number of positions is to exceed one. This is partly because the tilt-resisting springs occupy a major volume of the tilting fitting, and in particular if the springs are positionable relative to one another or adjustable in another way.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to remedy the outlined drawbacks of the prior art, and in connection with the first aspect of the said device mentioned in the introduction, the device, according to the invention, has the lower part provided with a first and a second pair of tilt-resisting springs, wherein the first pair of tilt-resisting springs are located on a respective side of the tilting axis, and have fixed spacing, wherein in the second pair of tilt-resisting springs, which constitute said spacing-adjustable tilt-resisting springs, each spring is eccentrically supported on or in the lower part on a respective rotatable support member, wherein each of the support members is provided with a segment of a toothed wheel, wherein an actuating element is arranged for simultaneous engagement with the two support members, the actuating element, along a part of each of its two sides in the element's direction of motion, having a row of teeth designed for engagement with a respective support member's toothed wheel or toothed wheel segment, and wherein the actuating element, when moved in the longitudinal direction of the tilting axis, is adapted to cause rotation of the support members and the springs mounted thereon, thereby changing the spacing of the springs.

[0007] According to a further embodiment, the first pair of tilt-resisting springs is designed to hold the seat in a neutral position when the seat is unloaded. This means that the first pair of tilt-resisting springs provides the basic load, and that it optionally may be pre-compressed.

[0008] According to a second embodiment, the tiliting fitting and thereby the chair seat is lockable in at least one tilting position of the tilting fitting. This may expediently be realised in that, for example, the upper part of the tilting fitting is equipped with a bevelled stop for engagement with a bevelled, laterally movable engaging block.

[0009] According to a third embodiment, and also related to the second aspect of the invention, the tilting fitting is provided with a tilt lock consisting of a first tooth-equipped engaging member on the upper part, and a second tooth-equipped engaging member movable on the lower part, the two engaging members being movable away from or towards one another for, respectively, release of engagement or initiation of engagement at a desired tilting position of the upper part in relation to the lower part.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the invention of the inventive device, the chair seat is lockable in at least two tilting positions of the tilting fitting, and the tilting fitting is provided with a tilt lock consisting of a first tooth-equipped engaging member on the upper part and a second tooth-equipped engaging member movable on the lower part, the two engaging members being movable away from or towards one another for, respectively, release of engagement or initiation of engagement at a desired tilting position of the upper part relative to the lower part.

[0011] The invention will now be further explained in the form of non-limiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawing figures.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the lower part of the tilting fitting with a first and a second pair of tilt-resisting blocks.

Figs. 3 and 4 show, in an enlarged section, the part of the tilting fitting that has the second pair of tilt-resisting springs, where one of the springs with support member has been removed to clarify the structure of the adjustment mechanism.

Figs. 5, 6, 9 and 10 show the tilting fitting, as seen from above, with respective different settings of the spacing between the springs, a portion of the upper part and lower part of the tilting fitting having been removed in Figs. 6, 9 and 10 to clarify the spacing between the springs, and Figs. 7, 8, 11 and 12 show the same as seen from the underside of the tilting fitting.

Fig. 13 shows the section XIII-XIII in Fig. 5, with a tilt lock activated.

Fig. 14 shows a section of Fig. 13, but with the tilt lock inactivated.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the tilting fitting as seen from below.

Fig. 16 shows details of the support members, their respective springs, toothed wheels/toothed wheel segments, and the actuating member.

Fig. 17 shows details of the movement mechanism for the actuating member.

Figs. 18a and 18b show detail of an alternative locking mechanism in respectively non-locked and locked position.

Figs. 19a and 19b show details, as seen from above, of the alternative locking mechanism as shown in Figs. 18a and 18b, respectively.

Figs. 20 and 21 are views XX and XXI on Fig. 19a as seen in direction of respective arrows of the locking mechanism parts shown on Figs. 18a, 18b and 19a, 19b.

Fig. 22 shows the locking mechanism parts of Figs.20 and 21 mutually tilted.

Figs. 23a and 23b show details of a modified embodiment of the alternative locking mechanism in respectively non-locked and locked position.

Figs. 24a and 24b show details, as seen from above, of the alternative locking mechanism as shown in Figs. 23 a and 23b, respectively.

Figs. 25a and 25b are perspective views from above of the tilting mechanism of Figs. 23a, 23b, 24a and 24b with the parts of the mechanism mutually tilted, but unlocked on Fig.25a, and locked on Fig.25b.

Figs. 26 and 27 are views XXVI and XXVII on Fig. 24a as seen in direction of respective arrows of the locking mechanism parts shown on Figs.23a, 23b; 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b.

Fig. 28 shows the locking mechanism parts of Figs.26 and 27 mutually tilted.

[0012] The invention is related to a tilting fitting 1 for a chair, where the chair seat is tiltable forwards and backwards against spring force of a first pair 2, 3 and a second pair 4, 5 of tilt-resisting springs. The tilting fitting 1 has an upper part 1' that is fastenable to the chair seat (not shown) and a lower part 1" that is fastenable via a fastening sleeve 1"' to the chair base (not shown) and tiltably connected to the upper part 1'. The tilting resistance is adjustable by adjusting the spacing between the tilt-resisting springs 4, 5 and thus the distance of each spring 2, 3 from a respective side of a tilting axis 6 for the upper part.

[0013] The first pair 2, 3 of tilt-resisting springs on the lower part 1" are located on a respective side of the tilting axis 6, and these springs 2, 3 have fixed spacing. They thus ensure a nominal tilting resistance and provide a basic load, i.e., to hold the seat in a neutral position when the seat is unloaded, whilst the springs 4, 5 are designed for adjusting the tilting resistance on forward and backward tilting of the chair seat.

[0014] In the second pair 4, 5 of tilt-resisting springs, which constitute said spacing-adjustable tilt-resisting springs, each spring 4, 5 is eccentrically supported on or in the lower part on a respective rotatable support member 4', 5'. Each of the support members 4', 5' is provided with a toothed wheel 4", 5" which is adapted to synchronously engage with a respective longitudinal toothed portion 7', 7" of an actuating element 7. This actuating element forms, in reality, a two-sided toothed rack. The actuating element is preferably spring-biased by a spring 8 that is fastened to the lower part, and the actuating element 7 is movable stepwise by means of engagement between an elastically resilient engaging lug 9 and a waved engaging row 10.

[0015] The control knob that the chair user must use to adjust the tilting resistance, i.e., for the movement of the actuating element, is in Figs. 4 - 6, 9 - 15 and 17 indicated by means of the reference numeral 14. It will be seen here that a user only needs to use one single control knob for this adjustment, and that this is located on a side portion of the chair seat. If the springs 4, 5 should become slightly jammed, i.e., that the seat, e.g., is not in a neutral position, the movement of the actuating element will not be possible, but it will be possible to move the control knob 14 so that desired positioning of the engaging lug 9 relative to the row 10 of lugs becomes possible. However, the actuating element 7 will then not move at the same time, whilst, on the other hand, the spring attachment 8' for the spring 8 mounted on the control knob will move, so that the actuating element 7 is biased by the spring 8. The actuating element 7 has thus been given a sort of "order", i.e., when the jamming effect on the springs 4, 5 ceases, the spring 8 will move the element 7 to a position in which the spring 8 no longer has thrust on the element 7, whilst the engagement between the toothed row 7'; 7" and respective toothed wheel segments 4"; 5" causes the springs 4; 5 to rotate about their eccentric support into order to come into the desired spacing.

[0016] The actuating element 7 will, when moved parallel with the toothed portions 7', 7" and in the longitudinal direction of the tilting axis 6, be adapted to cause rotation of the support members 4', 5' and the springs 4, 5 mounted thereon, thereby changing the spacing between the springs 4, 5.

[0017] It will be desirable to be able to make the chair seat i.e., in reality the upper part 1' of the tilting fitting 1 lockable in at least one tilting position of the tilting fitting. This may, for example, be effected in that the upper part 1' of the tilting fitting is equipped with a bevelled stop 12 for engagement with a bevelled, laterally movable engaging block 13 which is mounted on the lower part 1" of the tilting fitting. A second control knob 15 on the opposite side of the chair, also here on the underside of the seat, is intended to operate the movable part 13 of the tilt lock. A cover that is an integral part of the lower part is indicated by the reference numeral 11.

[0018] As an alternative, as shown in Figs. 18a - 22, to allow for a plurality of tilting positions, it is conceived that the tilting fitting has a tilt lock consisting of a first tooth-equipped engaging member 16 on the upper part 1', the member 16 having a plurality of teeth 16' having a common axis 16" and being angularly spaced, and a second tooth-equipped engaging member 17 on the lower part 1 ", the member 17 also having a plurality of teeth 17' having a common axis 17" and being angularly spaced, so that one or more teeth 17' can selectively engage one or more interspaces or recesses between the teeth 16'. The tilt axes 16", 17" of the two members 16, 17 are coaxial, and two engaging members 16, 17 are movable relative to one another either away from or towards one another by means of the control knob 15 for, respectively, release of engagement and initiation of engagement at a desired tilting position of the upper part 1'relative to the lower part 1". In the illustrated example, the control knob 15 is connected to the engaging member 17. View XX on Fig.19a indicates the member 16, and view XXI on Fig. 19a indicates the member 17.

[0019] As a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 18a - 22, it is now referred Figs. 23a - 28. To allow for a plurality of tilting positions, it is conceived that the tilting fitting has a tilt lock consisting of a first tooth-equipped engaging member 18 on the upper part 1', the member 18 having a plurality of teeth 18' having a common axis 18" and being angularly spaced. This member 18 is of same structure as the member 16 described above. Further, the tilt-lock has a second tooth-equipped engaging member 19 on the lower part 1" The member 19 has in this case, contrary to member 17, just a pair of teeth 19', 19" having a common axis 19"' and being located on either half sector of the member 19, so that so that one or both of the teeth 19', 19" can selectively engage one or two interspaces or recesses between the teeth 18'. The tilt axes 18", 19"' of the two members 18, 19 are coaxial, and two engaging members 19, 19 are movable relative to one another either away from or towards one another by means of the control knob 15 for, respectively, release of engagement or initiation of engagement at a desired tilting position of the upper part 1'relative to the lower part 1". View XXVI on Fig.24a indicates the member 18, and view XXVII on Fig. 24a indicates the member 19. In the illustrated example, the control knob 15 is connected to the engaging member 19.

Claims

1. A tilting fitting device for a chair to enable a chair seat when fitted to the device to be tiltable forwards and backwards against spring force of tilt-resisting springs (2 - 5), the tilting fitting having an upper part (1') that is fastenable to the chair seat and a lower part (1") that is fastenable to a chair base and tiltably connected to the upper part, the lower part being provided with first and second tilt-resisting spring means, which are located on a respective side of the tilting axis,
characterized in:

- that said first spring means (2; 3) comprises a pair of springs, which are located on a respective side of a tilting axis (6) for the upper part (1') and with a mutually fixed spacing,

- that said second spring means (4; 5) comprises a pair of springs which are located on a respective side of the tilting axis (6) for the upper part and with mutually adjustable spacing,

- that tilting resistance is adjustable by adjusting spacing between the second pair of tilt-resisting springs (4; 5) and distance of each spring from a respective side of the tilting axis (6) for the upper part,

- that in the second pair of tilt-resisting springs (4; 5), which constitute said spacing-adjustable tilt-resisting springs, each spring is eccentrically supported on or in the lower part on a respective rotatable support member (4'; 5');

- that each of the support members (4'; 5') is provided with a segment (4"; 5") of a toothed wheel;

- that an actuating element (7) is arranged for simultaneous engagement with the two support members (4', 5'; 4", 5"), the actuating element (7), along a part of each of its two sides in the element's longitudinal direction of motion, having a row of teeth (7') designed for engagement with a respective support member's toothed wheel or toothed wheel segment (4", 5"); and

- that the actuating element (7), when moved in the longitudinal direction of the tilting axis (6), is adapted to cause rotation of the support members (4'; 5') and the springs (4; 5) mounted thereon, thereby changing the mutual spacing of the springs (4'; 5').

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pair of tilt-resisting springs (2; 3) is configured to hold the upper part and a seat attached thereo in a neutral position when the seat is unloaded.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first pair of tilt-resisting springs (4'; 5') is pre-compressed.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the the tilting fitting (1) and thereby a chair seat attachable thereto are lockable in at least one tilting position of the tilting fitting.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper part (1') of the tilting fitting (1) is equipped with a bevelled stop (12) for engagement with a bevelled, laterally movable engaging block (13).

6. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the tilting fitting is provided with a tilt lock consisting of a first tooth-equipped engaging member (16; 18) on the upper part (1'), and a second tooth-equipped engaging member (17; 19) movable on the lower part (1"), the two engaging members (16; 17 or 18; 19) being movable away from or towards one another for, respectively, release of engagement or initiation of engagement or initiation of engagement at a desired tilting position of the upper part (1') relative to the lower part (1").

Ansprüche

1. Kippbauteilvorrichtung für einen Stuhl, so dass ein Stuhlsitz, wenn er an der Vorrichtung angebracht ist, gegen die Federkraft von dem Kippen widerstehenden Federn (2 - 5) nach vorne und nach hinten gekippt werden kann, wobei das Kippbauteil einen oberen Teil (1'), der am Stuhlsitz befestigt werden kann, und einen unteren Teil (1") hat, der an einer Stuhlbasis befestigt werden kann und kippbar mit dem oberen Teil verbunden ist, wobei der untere Teil mit einem ersten und einem zweiten dem Kippen widerstehenden Federmittel versehen ist, die an einer jeweiligen Seite der Kippachse angeordnet sind,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,

- dass das erste Federmittel (2; 3) ein Paar Federn umfasst, die auf einer jeweiligen Seite einer Kippachse (6) für den oberen Teil (1') und mit einem gegenseitigen festen Abstand angeordnet sind,

- dass das zweite Federmittel (4; 5) ein Paar Federn umfasst, die auf einer jeweiligen Seite der Kippachse (6) für den oberen Teil und mit einem gegenseitigen verstellbaren Abstand angeordnet sind,

- dass der Kippwiderstand verstellbar ist, indem der Abstand zwischen dem zweiten Paar dem Kippen widerstehender Federn (4; 5) und der Abstand jeder Feder von einer jeweiligen Seite der Kippachse (6) für den oberen Teil verstellt wird,

- dass im zweiten Paar dem Kippen widerstehender Federn (4; 5), die die dem Kippen widerstehenden Federn mit verstellbarem Abstand darstellen, jede Feder exzentrisch am oder im unteren Teil an einem jeweiligen drehbaren Stützelement (4'; 5') abgestützt ist,

- dass jedes der Stützelemente (4'; 5') mit einem Segment (4"; 5") eines Zahnrads versehen ist,

- dass ein Betätigungselement (7) zum gleichzeitigen Eingriff mit den beiden Stützelementen (4', 5'; 4", 5") angeordnet ist, wobei das Betätigungselement (7) entlang einem Teil jeder seiner beiden Seiten in der Längsbewegungsrichtung des Elements eine Reihe von Zähnen (7') hat, die zum Eingriff mit dem Zahnrad oder dem Zahnradsegment (4", 5") eines jeweiligen Stützelements ausgelegt sind, und

- dass das Betätigungselement (7) geeignet ist, die Drehung der Stützelemente (4'; 5') und der daran montierten Federn (4; 5) zu bewirken, wenn es in der Längsrichtung der Kippachse (6) bewegt wird, wodurch der gegenseitige Abstand der Federn (4'; 5') geändert wird.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Paar dem Kippen widerstehender Federn (2; 3) so konfiguriert ist, dass es den oberen Teil und einen daran angebrachten Sitz in einer neutralen Position hält, wenn der Sitz unbelastet ist.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Paar dem Kippen widerstehender Federn (4'; 5') vorkomprimiert ist.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Kippbauteil (1) und dadurch ein daran anbringbarer Stuhlsitz in mindestens einer Kippposition des Kippbauteils verriegelbar sind.

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der obere Teil (1') des Kippbauteils (1) mit einem abgefasten Anschlag (12) versehen ist, der mit einem abgefasten, seitlich beweglichen Eingriffsblock (13) in Eingriff kommt.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Kippbauteil mit einer Kippverriegelung aus einem ersten gezahnten Eingriffselement (16; 18) am oberen Teil (1') und einem zweiten gezahnten Eingriffselement (17; 19), das am unteren Teil (1") beweglich ist, versehen ist, wobei die beiden Eingriffselemente (16; 17 oder 18; 19) zum Lösen des Eingriffs bzw. zum Einleiten des Eingriffs oder zum Einleiten des Eingriffs in einer gewünschten Kippposition des oberen Teils (1') bezüglich des unteren Teils (1") voneinander weg oder aufeinander zu bewegt werden können.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de fixation d'inclinaison pour une chaise, destiné à permettre à un siège d'une chaise, lorsqu'il est fixé au dispositif, d'être incliné vers l'avant et vers l'arrière à l'encontre de la force de ressort de ressorts (2 - 5) résistant à l'inclinaison, la fixation d'inclinaison ayant une partie supérieure (1') pouvant être attachée au siège de la chaise et une partie inférieure (1") pouvant être attachée à une base de la chaise et connectée de manière inclinable à la partie supérieure, la partie inférieure étant pourvue de premier et deuxième moyens de ressort résistant à l'inclinaison, lesquels sont situés sur un côté respectif de l'axe d'inclinaison,
caractérisé en ce que :

- ledit premier moyen de ressort (2 ; 3) comprend une paire de ressorts qui son situés sur un côté respectif d'un axe d'inclinaison (6) pour la partie supérieure (1') et avec un espacement fixé mutuellement,

- ledit deuxième moyen de ressort (4 ; 5) comprend une paire de ressorts qui sont situés sur un côté respectif de l'axe d'inclinaison (6) pour la partie supérieure et avec un espacement ajustable mutuellement,

- la résistance d'inclinaison est ajustable en ajustant l'espacement entre la deuxième paire de ressorts résistant à l'inclinaison (4 ; 5) et la distance de chaque ressort à un côté respectif de l'axe d'inclinaison (6) pour la partie supérieure,

- dans la deuxième paire de ressorts résistant à l'inclinaison (4 ; 5), qui constituent lesdits ressorts résistant à l'inclinaison à espacement ajustable, chaque ressort est supporté de manière excentrique sur ou dans la partie inférieure d'un organe de support respectif rotatif (4' ; 5') ;

- chacun des organes de support (4' ; 5') est pourvu d'un segment (4" ; 5") d'une roue dentée ;

- un élément d'actionnement (7) est prévu pour s'engager simultanément avec les deux organes de support (4', 5' ; 4", 5"), l'élément d'actionnement (7), le long d'une partie de chacun de ses deux côtés, dans la direction de mouvement longitudinale de l'élément, ayant une rangée de dents (7') conçues pour s'engager avec une roue dentée ou un segment de roue dentée respectif (4" ; 5") de l'organe de support ; et

- l'élément d'actionnement (7), lorsqu'il est déplacé dans la direction longitudinale de l'axe d'inclinaison (6), est prévu pour provoquer la rotation des organes de support (4' ; 5') et des ressorts (4 ; 5) montés dessus, en changeant ainsi l'espacement mutuel des ressorts (4' ; 5').

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la première paire de ressorts résistant à l'inclinaison (2 ; 3) est configurée de manière à retenir la partie supérieure et un siège attaché à celle-ci, dans une position neutre lorsque le siège n'est pas chargé.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la première paire de ressorts résistant à l'inclinaison (4' ; 5') est précomprimée.

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la fixation d'inclinaison (1) et de ce fait un siège de chaise qui peut lui être attaché, peuvent être verrouillés dans au moins une position d'inclinaison de la fixation d'inclinaison.

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la partie supérieure (1') de la fixation d'inclinaison (1) est équipée d'une butée biseautée (12) destinée à s'engager avec un bloc d'engagement biseauté mobile latéralement (13).

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la fixation d'inclinaison est pourvue d'un verrouillage d'inclinaison constitué d'un premier organe d'engagement (16 ; 18) muni de dents sur la partie supérieure (1') et d'un deuxième organe d'engagement (17 ; 19) muni de dents déplaçable sur la partie inférieure (1"), les deux organes d'engagement (16 ; 17 ou 18 ; 19) pouvant être déplacés à l'écart l'un de l'autre ou l'un vers l'autre pour, respectivement, libérer l'engagement ou amorcer l'engagement dans une position d'inclinaison souhaitée de la partie supérieure (1') par rapport à la partie inférieure (1").

Drawing